I’m Related to Ben Zobrist!

Living Lessons:  I’m Related to Ben Zobrist!

by: Christopher Wiles

Unless you’ve lived under a rock for the past few weeks you know that the Cubs played in and won the MLB World Series for the first time in 108 years.  You score extra brownie points for knowing the name of the man designated as Most Valuable Player.  Ben Zobrist has entered into his third world series and earned his second title.  He batted in the go-ahead run in the top of the 10^th that helped seal the deal for the long drought-ridden underdogs. 

He’s also my cousin!  Ben Zobrist is from western Illinois.  My grandmother, Marjorie Zobrist, was from western Illinois.   This 35 year old all-star(I'm 37 btw), MVP, & World Series champ is a not too distant cousin of mine!  That makes me special doesn’t it?  (My cousin status was verified through my mom's cousin, Bonnie Maurer, in Highland, IL)

I hope you’re shaking your head at the silliness of the thought at this moment, but the truth is we all want to be special don’t we?  Isn’t that why: we wait in line for hours to obtain that coveted star autograph; we sneak backstage in an effort to get a selfie with someone famous;  we search family trees for a famous name; we travel many hours and pay huge fees to say we were in the concert crowd within 1,000 feet of someone great?  We all want to be special.

It doesn’t matter what baseball player I’m related to, what autograph I’ve gotten, what selfie I’m tagged in, or what concert I attend because I won’t reap any benefits, rewards, monies, or inheritance from that famous person.  Here’s the bombshell, I’m just not special by association with famous people or a team.

I AM SPECIAL because of an association WITH CHRIST.  God through His Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write these words: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal 3:26-29)

Did you hear that?  I’m special because I am a child of God.  It’s not because I’m a gentile; not because I’m free, not because I’m male, and not because am related to a baseball player.  I’m special because I belong to Christ, I am of Abraham’s lineage of faith, and I have an INHERITANCE to that PROMISE.  I’m special when I am clothed with Christ, and you are too!

Guess what! Ben Zobrist shares that same idea in a chapel talk he gave a Lipscomb University (my alma mater) in 2013.  Catch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CGvA6HCAnE

To all my Cleveland Indian fan friends, my heart goes out to you today.  To all my Chicago Cub fan friends, especially you Susan Petty, I say, "Congratulations!  Prayers answered!  Wahoo!"

To Ben Zobrist, if you ever read this article, cousin, congrats on winning the Big Prize through faith in Christ! (oh, and congrats on the World Series win too!)